There wasn’t a single deathless day on Texas roadways in 2023. While not every crash results from road rage, it’s a big part of car accident statistics in Texas. In Houston, Dallas, Austin, and beyond, aggressive driving is one of the state’s most pressing problems and a real safety concern for Texans.

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Texas Laws on Road Rage

Texas has no specific law against road rage. Instead, it prosecutes these incidents through a combination of traffic violations and criminal charges. Reckless driving carries fines of up to $200 and 30 days in jail. Aggressive driving, defined by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as endangering persons or property, can lead to more serious criminal charges.

Common Road Rage Behaviors and Their Legal Status

Road rage usually happens in gradual stages. Here’s how these behaviors often escalate:

Harmless but Aggressive Actions
Road rage can start with actions like tailgating, honking excessively, or making rude gestures. These behaviors can result in traffic citations and mark the beginning of road rage incidents.

Intentional Traffic Violations
When angry at other road users, drivers might commit traffic violations like the following:

  • Cutting off other drivers
  • Brake checking
  • Blocking lanes

These actions cross into reckless driving territory and can lead to misdemeanor charges with fines of $200.

Threatening Behaviors
These include actions like following other drivers, yelling threats, or attempting to force vehicles off the road. Threatening behaviors often lead to criminal charges beyond simple traffic violations.

Criminal Actions
Breaking windows, physically confronting other road users, or using the vehicle as a weapon are criminal actions. These severe forms of road rage can result in felony charges, especially if injuries occur.

Weapon-Related Incidents
Showing or using weapons during traffic confrontations represents the most extreme kind of road rage. This behavior frequently leads to serious criminal charges regardless of whether injuries occur.

How Do You Prove Road Rage in Texas Courts?

Texas courts require more than simple negligence to convict someone of aggressive or reckless driving. Prosecutors must show irrefutable evidence that the driver knowingly behaved dangerously.

This evidence typically includes speed documentation, driving records, and witness testimony. The burden of proof remains high. It must be demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt.

Texas Truck Accidents Are the Worst in the Nation

What to Do After a Road Rage Incident

Victims of road rage incidents can pursue both criminal charges and civil compensation. Luckily, civil cases don’t depend on criminal convictions and can proceed on their own. Victims can seek damages for medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering.

Common Accidents Associated with Road Rage

Road rage can lead to a variety of car accidents. A few common examples include:

Accident Type
Frequent Causes
Side impact collisions
Running red lights or stop signs
Sideswipe accidents
Aggressive lane changes
Rear-end collisions, often resulting in whiplash injuries
Tailgating
Head-on collisions (rare but deadly)
Extremely aggressive behavior

Road rage creates an unnecessary risk to other challenges facing Texas drivers, who have to share many highways with a large number of commercial trucks.

Taking Action After a Road Rage Incident

The most important thing to do if you’ve been involved in a road rage incident is to stay calm. It doesn’t help having more than one enraged driver on the road. Next, consider the following steps:

Get to Safety
Get off the road and move to a safe location. If you can, find a well-lit public area with cameras. If that’s not possible, drive to a police station, a busy parking lot, or a gas station. Keep your doors locked and windows up.

Record What You Saw
You can do this by writing down details of what happened, making a voice recording, or even taking photos and short videos. But you should only take these steps if it’s safe to do so.

Enlist Witness Support
You will need witnesses to collaborate on your story. Ask them what they saw and collect as many numbers as you can. Their points of view provide neutral accounts that might help your case.

Involve the Police
Even if the incident seems minor, file a police report. This creates an official record and can help establish patterns if the aggressive driver has a history of similar behavior.

Get Yourself Checked
Get checked out by a medical professional, even if you feel fine. Some injuries, particularly those from sudden braking or swerving, might not be immediately apparent.

Dealing with Road Rage on Texas Roads

You never know when you’ll encounter a driver who’s having a bad day and decides to take out their frustrations on the road. When that day comes, do your best to stay levelheaded and get to a safe space, whether that’s a police station or a crowded parking lot.